AFTER decades of campaigning it appears that the long wait for a decision on the A3 tunnel is finally over.

Residents, motorists and conservation groups have been celebrating this week after the Government announced its intention to foot the £371 million bill to rid the county of the notorious bottleneck at Hindhead.

For campaigners it has taken more than 20 years to reach this point.

Several schemes have been considered but were either thrown out or cancelled.

It is now hoped that within the next five years the proposed twin-bore tunnel will be built, taking the A3 under the Devil’s Punch Bowl.

The old A3 will be closed and a massive restoration project will begin.

Heralding the scheme as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, the National Trust (NT) – which has owned and managed Hindhead Commons on behalf of the nation since 1906 – is now looking forward to the year 2011 when its work on restoring the landscape can begin.

“This means the communities around Hindhead will at last get a transport solution that will not only reduce traf-fic congestion but will also deliver huge environmental, recreational and safety benefits,” said Fiona Reynolds, NT director general.

“This is a unique opportunity to reunite one of the most dramatic and inspirational landscapes in the South East for nature conservation, recreation and tourism purposes.

“It will also bring significant environmental and potential economic gains to Hindhead and its people.”

The Government announced earlier this year that the scheme was likely to get the go-ahead, but concerns over spiralling costs forced ministers to send back the plans for further consultation.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman announced this final decision on October 27.

South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt welcomed the news on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of commuters who get stuck daily in the nightmare of the A3 junction at Hindhead.

“But most of all, it is good news for the long-suffering residents of Hindhead and Haslemere who have had to put up with the frustrations of coping with one of the country’s worst traffic bottlenecks right on their doorstep,” he said.

“We now need to see action and see this tunnel built.

“I will continue to campaign on this issue to ensure it is built in time for the 2012 London Olympics.”

It was announced that initial environmental works will be-gin in January next year and the main scheme works in April 2008, with the tunnel expected to be open to motorists in 2011.

Highways Agency project team manager Paul Arnold has said that boreholes have already been sunk and work will start at the Thursley end and also at Tyndall’s Wood.

However, the problems with congestion might get worse before they get better.

Traffic management systems will have to be put in place once work starts, which could mean lane closures, with commuters starting to queue even earlier than they do now.

Work on the restoration of the landscape will begin once the tunnel is open in 2011.

During the initial stages, wildlife concerns will also be addressed through a project to make sure that dormice, nesting birds and other creatures are moved to a safe habitat.